The last time Zimbabwe played a T20 World Cup fixture in India, their campaign ended before the eventual champions even began theirs. On Monday night at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, the West Indies cricket team offered a brutal reminder of what elite T20 power-hitting looks like, producing a display evocative of their 2016 dominance.
A staggering 254 for 6 — the highest total of this edition and the second-highest in T20 World Cup history — set the tone. Nineteen sixes were struck, equalling a World Cup record. Zimbabwe were eventually flattened by 107 runs in their first Super Eights fixture, a margin that could have significant net run rate implications across the group.
Power on a Different Surface
Zimbabwe’s progression from the slower tracks of Sri Lanka to the truer, high-scoring surfaces of India was always going to test their adaptability. Mumbai’s batting-friendly conditions exposed that adjustment gap immediately.
The carnage was orchestrated primarily by Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell, whose calculated assault dismantled Zimbabwe’s bowling plans in the middle overs.
Zimbabwe did manage early inroads. Brandon King’s lean run continued, and Shai Hope fell before the end of a Powerplay that still yielded 55 runs. At that stage, there was at least the illusion of control.
That illusion evaporated quickly.
Hetmyer’s 19-Ball Blitz
Hetmyer announced his intent by targeting spin. Graeme Cremer was dispatched for consecutive sixes. Even the experienced Sikandar Raza was not spared; three towering sixes off the captain in rapid succession underlined the shift in momentum.
Five sixes came in the space of six deliveries as Hetmyer raced to a breathtaking 19-ball half-century. His bat swing was clean, his base stable, and his range comprehensive — down the ground, over midwicket, and square of the wicket.
A missed opportunity proved costly. Tashinga Musekiwa dropped Hetmyer when he was on just 9. In high-scoring contests, such moments rarely remain isolated; they compound. Whether that chance would have altered the final result is debatable given the eventual margin, but it undeniably accelerated Zimbabwe’s decline.
By the halfway stage, West Indies were 115 for 2 and accelerating.
Powell Takes Over
When Cremer briefly found turn to discomfort Powell, there was a fleeting suggestion of resistance. It lasted only moments. Powell recalibrated quickly, shifting the assault towards pace. His hitting was muscular and efficient, particularly through the leg side.
The century partnership ended eventually, but not before the damage was irreversible. Powell completed a fluent half-century, maintaining the scoring tempo set by Hetmyer.
The final five overs descended into unrestrained power-hitting. Jason Holder, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd joined the six-hitting parade, ensuring the total moved beyond theoretical chase territory.
Zimbabwe’s bowlers were not erratic; they were simply outmatched on a surface offering minimal margin for error. Blessing Muzarabani’s 2 for 42 was statistically respectable in context, but containment proved impossible.
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Early Collapse Ends the Chase
Zimbabwe’s response faltered almost immediately. Akeal Hosein struck early, and the West Indies attack removed three wickets inside 16 deliveries. When Brian Bennett, who had entered the game unbeaten in the tournament, was dismissed after West Indies crossed 200, any faint psychological resistance faded.
Ryan Burl followed soon after. At 20 for 3, the equation was not just steep — it was vertical.
To their credit, Zimbabwe attempted to stabilise. Dion Myers found timely boundaries, while Raza, despite consuming eight deliveries to get off the mark, began to rotate strike and restore some structure. At 87 for 4 at the halfway point, the immediate objective shifted from victory to net run rate preservation.
That ambition was extinguished by Gudakesh Motie. His double strike in consecutive deliveries broke Zimbabwe’s middle order. He finished with four wickets, while Hosein added three, ensuring there would be no prolonged resistance.
In one final act of defiance, Evans produced a brief counterpunch, smashing five sixes in ten deliveries. It was entertaining, but it did not alter the narrative. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 147 in 17.4 overs.
The 107-run margin is more than just a loss; it is a statement. For West Indies, it reinforces their credentials as one of the most explosive sides in the tournament. For Zimbabwe, it exposes the gulf between competitive resilience and elite firepower on flat Indian tracks.